Perforating machine



Nov. 15, 1955 w. G. MANTONYA 2,723,719

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Sept). 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1955 w. G. MANTONYA PERFORATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22. 1949 filliqm, (1- union cu. W 2%45? United States Patent PERFORATING MACHINE William G. Mantonya, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cummins- Chicago Corp., acorporation of Illinois Application September 22, 1949, Serial No. 117,223

7 Claims. (Cl. 164-111) The invention relates to perforating machines of the type having a reciprocating or oscillating head carrying a series of adjustable matrix elements for determining the indicia to be perforated, and it is more particularly concerned with improved mechanism for automatically and progressively adjusting the matrix elements to enable the machine to perforate indicia in a predetermined order in successive operations of the head.

In machines of the above general character, automatic adjustment of the matrix elements is commonly effected by pawl-and-ratchet mechanism in which the pawl reciprocates with the head and imparts an adjusting movement to the matrix elements as the head traverses a por tion of either its operating or return stroke. Since the perforating punches engage in sockets or clearance holes in the matrix elements, adjustment of the elements can take place only when they are out of engagement with the punches. The head must therefore be arranged to travel through a stroke that is long enough to operate the punches and additionally to move the pawl a sufiicient distance to shift the matrix elements from one set position to the next. The long stroke required of the head increases the size and cost of the machine and also the time required for the performance of a perforating cycle.

With the above in view, one object of the invention is to provide improved automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism which is operable without any idlemovement of the head after the matrix elements have been separated from the punches, thus permitting a material reduction in the length of the stroke of the head with a corresponding decrease in the cost of the machine and in the time required for its operating cycle.

A more specific object is to provide automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism driven by power accumulated in the punch actuating movement of the head and released for operation at a predetermined point in the return stroke of the head.

It is also an object of the invention to provide automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism characterized by its simple construction and eflicient, positive action, and which is easy to adjust and to maintain in good working order.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the-accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a perforating machine equipped with automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism embodying the features of the invention, the housing of the machine being omitted to show the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the head portion of the machineshowing the head in its upper or normal rest position and the adjusting mechanism as having completed an adjusting operation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the head portion of the machine'showing the headin the lower or perforating position and the adjusting mechanism conditioned for operation upon return of the head to normal rest position.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifica tions and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limitthe invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The perforating machine selected to illustrate the invention has a horizontally-disposed base 10 carrying at its forward end a conventional perforated die plate 11. Supported on the base in overlying relation to the die plate is a punch holding plate 12 which is spaced from the die plate so as to define a slot 13 for the reception of a sheet of paper or other material to be perforated.

The frame 12 serves as a support and guide for a plurality of perforating elements or punches 15 arranged in groups alined transversely of the frame. The punches 15 are normally urged toward and retained in a retracted position by mechanism (not shown) of well-known construction incorporated in the frame 12. The arrangement issuch that the punches are movable endwise across the slot 13 and into engagement with the die plate 11 to perforate the sheet material presented in the slot.

Actuation of the punches 15 is efifected by a series of punch operating matrix elements 20 carried by a head 21 supported and guided above the punches for movement toward and from the same. Such movements may be imparted to the head either manually or by cyclicallyoperated power actuated means of any suitable character.

In the exemplary machine the matrix elements 20 are of conventional construction comprising metal rings supported in side-by-side relation for rotative adjustment upon a shaft or mandrel 22 carried by the head 21. A separate matrix element 20 is provided for each punch group and each element has uniformly spaced about its periphery a plurality of matrix faces 23 adapted to be presented in operative relation to the associated punch group individually by rotative adjustment of the matrix element. Each matrix face is formed with a series of shallow depressions or sockets 24 positioned for cooperation with the ends of the punches to be operated and a series of relatively deep holes 25 adapted to receive the ends of the punches that are to remain idle in a perforating operation. It will be understood, of course, that the sockets 24 and holes 25 are arranged in patterns defining the indicia to be perforated, which may be letters, numerals, or simply arbitrary symbols, the pattern being different for each face of an element.

The automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism constituting the present invention is particularly well adapted for use in machines having matrix elements for perforating numerals. In such machines the matrix elements are commonly provided with ten faces adapted in successive positions of the element to operate the punches for perforating the numerals 1 to 0. The exemplary machine is equipped with five of the matrix elements 20 and accordingly any numeral between 00001 and 99,999 may be perforated by appropriate setting of the elements. An additional matrix element 26 adjustable manually by means of a radially projecting pin 27 may be provided for the perforation of fixed indicia, as for example, the date or a letter or symbol to identify the user of the machine. As herein shown the element 26 is arranged at the left end of the group of elements 20.

Through the operation of the automatic matrix adjusting mechanism provided by the invention, one or more of the matrix elements are advanced a step as an incident to a perforating operation, so that the next higher number will be perforataed in the succeeding operation. In

other words, the matrix elements are adjusted progressively for the perforation of consecutive numbers. The power for operating the mechanism is accumulated in the advance or perforating stroke of the head but its release for operation of the mechanism to adjust the matrix elements is deferred until the head has reached a predetermined point in its return stroke, in this instance, when the head has returned substantially to its fully retracted position. Upon such release, the matrix ring or rings are immediately advanced a full stroke independently of any further movement of the head. t is only necessary therefore to retract the head sufliciently to raise the matrix elements clear of the ends of the punches.

Referring to the drawings, the improved matrix element adjusting mechanism includes a generally U-shaped pawl carrier '29 straddling the group of matrix elements 20 and pivotally supported to rock about the axis of the elements. In its preferred form, the carrier comprises a pair of side members 30 and 31 apertured at their lower ends for reception of the shaft 22 and rigidly connected at their upper ends by a cross shaft 52. Pivoted on the shaft 32 is a pawl 33 having a comb-like series of teeth 34 spaced apart similarly to the matrix elements 20 for cooperation with notches 35 in the peripheries of the elements. These teeth vary progressively in length, the longest tooth being to the right (as viewed in Fig. 1) for cooperation with the matrix element in the units position.

In a numeral perforating machine such as that shown, each matrix element ordinarily has ten matrix faces with a notch 35 interposed between each pair of faces. Nine of these notches are relatively shallow, while the tenth notch is substantially deeper. This deep notch is located for coaetion with the pawl as the element advances from 9 to and, in this instance, is spaced approximately 115 from the 9 and 0 matrix faces. The arrangement is such that when any pawl tooth is engaged in a shallow notch, all those associated with higher denominational matrix elements, that is those to the left of the engaged pawl, are held clear of their matrix elements. When a pawl drops into a deep notch 35a, the next adjacent tooth is rendered effective. Due to the progressively varying length of the pawl teeth, the advance of the matrix element is effected so that the numbers perforated are consecutive, that is the element in the units position is advanced one step in each oscillation of the pawl carrier 29, the element in the tens position is advanced one step for each ten steps of the units element, and so on throughout the entire group of elements.

In the preferred form of the mechanism, the pawl carrier 29 is operated to advance the matrix elements by power accumulated in a spring 40 (Fig. l) in the perforating stroke of the head 21. As herein shown, the spring is anchored at one end to a stud 41 threaded into the stationary punch frame 12. The other end of the spring is anchored to an arm 42 rigid with and projecting forwardly from one of the side members of the carrier, in this instance the side member 31, so that the spring tends to rock the pawl carrier forwardly toward the rest position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. For anchoring the spring to the arm 42, an adjustable anchor screw 43 is received in an aperture in the arm and is locked in adjnsted position by nuts 44 threaded on the screw on opposite sides of the arm.

Forward swinging movement of the pawl carrier 29 is limited by engagement of the lower forward end of the side member 30 with a headed plunger 45 slidably supported in an aperture in a bracket 46 mounted on and reciprocable with the head 21. The head of the plunger 45 cooperates with the upper face of the bracket 45 to retain the plunger in the position shown in Fig. 2 when the perforater head 21 is in its retracted position.

When the perforator head 21 is advanced in a perforating operation, the lower end of the plunger 45 engages an abutment plate 45a on the punch frame 12 and the plunger remains stationary as the head descends. The plunger accordingly rides over a cam surface 58 formed on the lower end of the side member 30 and swings the pawl carrier upwardly or toward the cocked position in which it is shown in Fig, 3. In this movement the pawl 33 is carried rearwardly to present its teeth to the next adjacent notches of the matrix elements and to disengage a stop pawl 47 which cooperates with the notches in the matrix elements to limit their movements to a single step in each operating cycle. The spring 40, of course, is tensioned in the upward movement of the carrier, thereby aceumulating power for operating the mechanism, or in other words conditioning it for its next operation.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided for retaining the pawl carrier 29 in cocked position during that portion of the return movement of the perforator head 21 required to retract the matrix elements clear of the ends of the punches. As the head completes that portion of its return movement, the latched carrier is released to be swung forwardly by the tensioned spring 40, thereby advancing the matrix elements to position them for perforating the next consecutive number. Since such advance of the matrix elements is not dependent upon continued movement of the head, the return movement of the latter may be terminated as soon as the elements clear the punches. Thus the advance of the rings may be effected substantially coincidentally with the return of the head to fully retracted position.

In the exemplary machine, the carrier retaining means comprises a generally L-s'haped latch member 50 pivoted on the perforator head as at 51 with one leg adapted to engage under the lower forward end of the side member 30 to positively block the forward swinging of the pawl carrier. The other leg 53 of the latch member is apertured for the reception of an upstanding pin 54 carried by an extension 55 of the punch frame 12. In the downward movement of the perforator head the latch arm 53 slides along the pin 54 while the other arm 52 rides along the front edge of the side member 30.

As the head approaches its lower limit position in an operating stroke, the latch arm 53 engages a yieldable bufier, herein shown as a washer 56 slidable on the pin 54 and supported by a coiled compression spring 57 encircling the lower end of the pin. Such engagement is timed to take place before the pawl carrier is rocked against the stop 47 and, as the carrier meets the stop, the latch arm is swung under or into blocking relation to the side member 30.

In the initial movement of the perforator head in its return stroke, the latch member is held in blocking relation to the pawl carrier by the spring 57 until the member 30 of the carrier swings forwardly under the action of the spring 40 and makes contact with the latch member. The latter is then held in latching position by frictional engagement with the side member while the perforator head continues its upward or return movement.

As the matrix elements clear the punches, the arm 53 of the latch engages a head 58 on the upper end of the pin 54. The latch is thus swung counterclockwise out of engagement with the carrier side member, thereby releasing the carrier to the action of the spring 40 which swings it forwardly to advance the matrix elements. To facilitate timing of the release, the pin 54 may have a threaded connection with the extension 55 so that it may be screwed in or out to vary the point of contact by the latch arm.

When it is desired to perforate the same indicia repeatedly, the automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism is temporarily rendered ineffective by shifting the abutment plate 45a out of the path of the plunger 45. Accordingly as the head is advanced in a perforating stroke, the plunger enters a recess in the frame 12 so that no resetting or cocking of the pawl carrier 29 takes place. The matrix elements therefore remain in the same position in successive perforating operations and the same indicia is perforated each time.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides automatic matrix element adjusting mechanism of a novel and advantageous character. The arrangement for accumulating power for operating the mechanism during the perforating stroke of the head makes it possible to adjust the matrix elements as soon as they clear the punches and thus eliminates the need for a long idle stroke to effect the operation of the pawl carrier. The machine may thus be made more compact and operating time is substantially reduced by the shorter travel of the head. The mechanism is simple in construction and easy to keep in working order, and adjustments may be effected in a simple and expeditious manner.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine having an element reciprocable bodily through an advancing stroke and a return stroke, said element also being adjustable unidirectionally step-bystep into a plurality of different positions, mechanism operative during each reciprocation to automatically adjust said element one step at a time, including spring means for driving the mechanism, means for tensioning said spring means in response to the advancing stroke of said element, means for latching said tensioning means when said spring means is fully tensioned, and means for releasing said latching means permitting spring means to drive said mechanism as said element completes its return stroke.

2. In a machine having an element reciprocable bodily through an advancing stroke and a return stroke, said element also being adjustable unidirectionally step-by step into a plurality of different positions, mechanism operative during each reciprocation to automatically advance said element in a single adjusting step, including spring means for driving the mechanism, means for tensioning said spring means in response to the bodily movement of said element in its advancing stroke, latch means restraining the mechanism against adjustment of said element by the tensioned spring means, and means for releasing said latch means incident to the completion of the return stroke of said element.

3. In a machine having a plurality of adjustable rings, a shaft supporting said rings for rotational adjustment, each of said rings having a plurality of distinctive faces adapted to be presented selectively in different operating positions, means for shifting said shaft and said rings in an operating movement and for retracting the shaft and rings to the starting position, a pawl carrier supported for oscillation about the axis of said shaft, a pawl on said carrier cooperating with said rings, spring means urging said carrier toward a rest position, means for swinging said carrier to a cocked position against the action of said spring means in response to the operating movement of the shaft and rings, means for retaining said carrier in cocked position during the retraction of the shaft and rings, and means for releasing said carrier for return to rest position by said spring means as the shaft and rings reach a predetermined position, said pawl being operative in the return movement of said carrier to impart a rotative adjusting step to at least one of said rings.

4. In a machine having a stationary frame, a head supported and guided for movement toward and from said frame, an element rotatably supported on said head and movable therewith toward and from said frame, said element having a series of distinctive faces adapted to be presented selectively in different operating positions, means for rotatably adjusting said element including a pawl carrier mounted to swing about an axis parallel to the axis of the element, a spring yieldably urging said carrier toward one position, a pawl mounted on said carrier for cooperation with the element, means for swinging said carrier from said one position to a cocked position incident to the movement of said head toward said frame, said spring being tensioned in said swinging of the carrier, a latch member pivotally supported on said head for movement into blocking relation to said carrier when the latter is swung into cocked position, and stationary means engageable by said latch member as the head approaches a predetermined position for withdrawing the latch member from blocking relation to said carrier to release the carrier for return by the tensioned spring.

5. In a machine having an element movable in an operating and return stroke, said element being adjustable step-by-step into a plurality of difierent operating positions, a pawl carrier supported for movement between advanced and retracted position, spring means urging said carrier toward the advanced position, a pawl mounted on said carrier engageable with said element for imparting an adjusting movement thereto in the movement of said carrier toward advanced position, means settable selectively to cause said carrier either to be moved to retracted position or to remain in advanced position in response to the movement of said element in an operating stroke, said element being retained in the same adjusted position in successive operating strokes when said carrier is permitted to remain in advanced position, latch means operative when said carrier is moved to retracted position to retain it in such position, and means for releasing said latch means to initiate an adjusting movement of said carrier when the element reaches a predetermined point in its return stroke.

6. In a machine for applying indicia to sheet material, in combination, an element having a plurality of faces each carrying different indicia, said element being adjustable step by step to present said faces in an operative position successively, means for bodily advancing said element to perform an indicia applying action and then to retract the element, mechanism adapted when operated to impart an adjusting step to the element, spring means for accumulating energy for the operation of said mechanism in the advance of the element, latching means for restraining said mechanism against adjustment for said element, and means for disabling said latching means upon retraction of said element to a predetermined position.

7. In a machine for applying indicia to sheet material, in combination, an element having a plurality of faces each equipped with different indicia, said element being adjustable step by step to present said faces individually and successively in an operative position, means for bodily advancing said element to perform an indicia applying action and then to retract the element, mechanism adapted when operated to impart an adjusting step to said element, spring means tensioned in the advance of said element to accumulate energy for operating said mechanism, latching means for restraining said mechanism against adjustment of said element and means for disabling said latching means upon retraction of said element to a predetermined position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 293,199 Seybold Feb. 5, 1884 557,648 Bradley Apr. 7, 1896 831,822 Boocock Sept. 25, 1906 1,112,839 Roth Oct. 6, 1914 1,407,769 Premo Feb. 28, 1922 1,717,335 Derschug June 11, 1929 1,982,453 Rix Nov. 27, 1934 2,434,012 Ponti Jan. 6, 1948 2,471,198 Cormany May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 521,365 Germany May 24, 1929 

